Ipswich Town: The 31 players who helped seal Premier League promotion

The Blues sealed promotion to the Premier League by valuing everyone equally, be that a regular starter, a super sub who scores late goal or someone who patiently waits for their chance in the team.

31 different players were involved in their Championship campaign. Alex Jones takes a look at everyone who helped them achieve a second-place finish.

Goalkeepers

Christian Walton missed the start of the season through injury (Image: Ross Halls)

#1 - Christian Walton

1 appearance, 0 clean sheets

Christian Walton only got a few minutes on the pitch this season, coming on as a late substitute in the 2-0 win against Huddersfield Town. Nobody would’ve predicted that 10 months ago, but a foot injury unfortunately derailed his campaign. Nonetheless, he’s been incredibly patient and reliable in cup competitions. Although this wasn’t his season, he’s played a huge part in Town’s return to the top of English football.

Vaclav Hladky has been Town's first-choice goalkeeper this season (Image: Ross Halls)

#31 - Vaclav Hladky

46 appearances, 14 clean sheets

Thrown in at the deep end due to Walton’s injury and made an immediate impact despite the fact that this was his debut season at Championship level. He’s made countless impressive saves and it’s clear that Ipswich wouldn’t be in the Premier League if it wasn’t for him. On top of that, he’s shown a big improvement with the ball at his feet and he’s a fantastic character who clearly suits the dressing room.

Defenders

Harry Clarke overcame an Achilles injury to play a crucial part in Ipswich's promotion (Image: Ross Halls)

#2 - Harry Clarke

35 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist

Struggled in the early stages of the campaign after coming back from an Achilles injury, but the way he adapted to life back in the second tier was remarkable. Defensively strong and a regular attacking threat, even when he’s been played out of position on the left. As a boyhood Town fan, this promotion will mean so much to him, and even as someone who’s spent time at Arsenal, it’ll be a dream come true to play in the Premier League.

Leif Davis broke the record for assists from a defender in a single Championship season (Image: Ross Halls)

#3 - Leif Davis

43 appearances, 2 goals, 18 assists

Top of the assist charts in the Championship. Named in the Team of the Season. Winner of the Players’ Player of the Year award at Ipswich. What more is there to say about this man? Despite being a defender, he’s the creative heartbeat of the team, and he’s shown a big improvement defensively. Clearly the most valuable asset in the squad, and he’ll be one of the ones to watch in the top flight next season as he looks to show that he can reach the highest level.

George Edmundson performed well whenever he was brought into the starting lineup (Image: Ross Halls)

#4 - George Edmundson

10 appearances, 0 goals, 2 assists

Recovered from a tough injury but looked rusty in pre-season, yet whenever he’s been called upon in the league, he’s delivered. Brought into the starting lineup for certain games to deal with specific threats, particularly fast and physical attackers. Has never moaned about his game time and always given 100% out on the pitch. Arguably the best example of how football has become a squad game, and a real role model in the squad.

Luke Woolfenden helped his boyhood club reach the Premier League (Image: Ross Halls)

#6 - Luke Woolfenden

41 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist

Like Clarke, another player who could never have dreamed that he’d one day take his boyhood club to the Premier League. For Woolfenden, it’s even more special given that he was almost sold on multiple occasions as numerous managers didn’t like his style of play. Kieran McKenna has brought the best out of him and turned him into one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the league. Not only is his defensive influence vital, but he’s often the starting point of Town’s slick attacking moves.

Cameron Burgess strike against Coventry City saw Ipswich take a big step towards promotion (Image: Ross Halls)

#15 - Cameron Burgess

39 appearances, 2 goals, 1 assist

Not only is Cameron Burgess one of the most underrated players in the Ipswich squad, but arguably in the entire Championship as well. He’ll admit that his early days at Portman Road were difficult, but he’s turned into an absolute man-mountain of a defender under McKenna. Not only is he a real physical presence who’s brave on and off the ball, but he’s surprisingly technical and clearly very intelligent.

Brandon Williams' late header earned the Blues a crucial point at Huddersfield Town (Image: Pagepix)

#18 - Brandon Williams

15 appearances, 2 goals, 0 assists

We didn’t get to see as much of him as we would’ve liked, but we loved what he showed on the pitch during his time at Portman Road. A strong defender, flying in with big tackles to get the fans up on their feet, and someone who could bomb down either flank to create a chance or score. His goals against Huddersfield Town and Preston North End will live long in the memory.

Cameron Humphreys stepped up to the Championship for the first time in his career (Image: Ross Halls)

#30 - Cameron Humphreys

3 appearances, 0 goals, 1 assist

Came into the squad when he needed to and never looked out of place on the pitch. His versatility was a huge plus this season, and it’s great that he was credited with the assist for Marcus Harness’ first goal against Birmingham City. His future is bright, albeit that a loan move looks inevitable now Ipswich are in the Premier League.

Axel Tuanzebe has now won promotion from the Championship twice (Image: Ross Halls)

#40 - Axel Tuanzebe

18 appearances, 0 goals, 1 assist

Patience is a virtue, and Axel Tuanzebe has been worth the wait. It took until November for us to see him make his Town debut, and even then, he played a bit part role until the turn of the year. A Man-of-the-Match performance against Birmingham in February saw him nail down a starting spot at right-back, and he’s hardly put a foot wrong since then despite the fact it isn’t his natural position. He now has two promotions to the Premier League on his CV, and he’ll be hoping that his top-flight experience can help the Blues next season.

Janoi Donacien was a regular at the start of the season (Image: Ross Halls)

#44 - Janoi Donacien

3 appearances, 0 goals, 0 assists

This is all about August 2023, where Janoi Donacien played three league games and looked really impressive in all of them – particularly away at Sunderland, where he totally nullified Jack Clarke. Ultimately, a groin injury curtailed his season, albeit that he briefly returned to the squad at the end of October. We shouldn’t forget the role he played in getting Ipswich off and running at the start of the campaign, however.

Midfielders

Sam Morsy was chosen as the club's Player of the Year (Image: Ross Halls)

#5 - Sam Morsy

42 appearances, 3 goals, 6 assists

Captain, leader, legend. It’s a bit of a cliché these days, but it certainly fits Morsy, who won the club’s Player of the Season award. He offers a bit of everything – goals, assists, forward runs, strong tackles and excellent movement. Very few players can protect the back line and still have an influence in the final third like he does, and the fact that he’s shown it on such a consistent basis is staggering. Can’t forget that he did really well to avoid 15 bookings in the league this season.

Wes Burns opened the scoring on the final day of the season (Image: Stephen Waller)

#7 - Wes Burns

35 appearances, 6 goals, 4 assists

There’s an argument that, if Wes Burns had been fit for the entire season, Ipswich would’ve won the Championship title. We’ll never know whether that’s the case, but it’s clear that his absence hit the team hard. The winger was always seen to have a ceiling at mid-table Championship level, but he’s smashed that with ease and deserves a crack at the Premier League. The way he exploits space down the right is pretty remarkable, and he’s shown that he has the end product to match as well.

Lee Evans made 61 appearances during his time in Suffolk (Image: Ross Halls)

#8 - Lee Evans

2 appearances, 0 goals, 0 assists

One cameo, one start, one injury that ultimately ended his time in Suffolk. It was clear that his game time would be limited in the Championship, but he still played his part where he could. Like Walton, he’ll be remembered for his role in League One more than anything, and hopefully his spell at Portsmouth shows that he’s got a lot left to offer for any club that wants to pick him up as a free agent.

Conor Chaplin had the most goal contributions of anyone in the squad this season (Image: Ross Halls)

#10 - Conor Chaplin

44 appearances, 13 goals, 8 assists

Last season’s top goalscorer had no issues settling into the Championship, bagging the same award this year (albeit shared with Nathan Broadhead) after finding the back of the net 13 times in 44 games. His movement caused lots of problems for Championship defences and his understanding of the game and how McKenna wants to play have really helped his side over the last few months. One of the standouts.

Marcus Harness scored a late brace to earn Town a point at Birmingham City (Image: Pagepix)

#11 - Marcus Harness

34 appearances, 4 goals, 1 assist

Similar to Edmundson in the way that he remained patient, but he also thrived as a super sub, particularly in the draw at Birmingham where he grabbed a late brace to take a point back to Suffolk. There were question marks over his ability to step up to the Championship, but he proved all his doubters wrong by becoming a crucial part of the squad, and his impact should never be forgotten.

Dom Ball's versatility helped Ipswich during difficult periods (Image: Ross Halls)

#12 - Dom Ball

10 appearances, 0 goals, 0 assists

Was clear from the start that he wasn’t going to get too many games this season, but his versatility has been really important, covering midfield, centre-back and right-back. Often been singled out for praise by McKenna, coming on and doing his job without a fuss, even if it’s only for a couple of minutes as the end. The Swiss Army knife of this group.

Two of Jack Taylor's five goals this season game in the Championship (Image: PA)

#14 - Jack Taylor

33 appearances, 2 goals, 1 assist

Perhaps had a point to prove after his last stint in the Championship ended with relegation at Peterborough United. While most of his appearances came off the bench, he scored a screamer against Swansea City and a crucial goal at Rotherham United. Had to adapt to a new role in a deeper position but always gave Ipswich something different when he came on.

Fans want Omari Hutchinson to return to Portman Road next season (Image: Stephen Waller)

#20 - Omari Hutchinson

44 appearances, 10 goals, 5 assists

Arrived as a young, raw talent who had clear issues when it came to decision making in the final third. Finished his loan spell as one of the best players in the Championship. His development under McKenna has been nothing short of remarkable, starting as an impact sub and growing into the star of the team. His form in the second half of the season carried Ipswich over the line, as did his late goals off the bench. Can they get him back in the Premier League?

Jeremy Sarmiento scored at the death against both Leicester City and Southampton (Image: Stephen Waller)

#21 - Jeremy Sarmiento

40 appearances, 5 goals, 1 assist

Clear similarities with Omari Hutchinson. Started off as a very raw talent who added pace and energy in the latter stages of games, but didn’t look like a suitable starter despite some crucial last-gasp goals. Then, towards the end of the season, he arguably hit the form of his career, performing well off the bench and in the starting lineup. Another one who will continue to develop under McKenna if he remains at the club next season.

Sone Aluko announced his retirement at the end of the season (Image: Ross Halls)

#23 - Sone Aluko

1 appearance, 0 goals, 0 assists

Ended up with just two minutes off the bench against QPR, but his impact came off the pitch more than anything. A key figure in the dressing room and someone who watched the manages alongside the analysts to provide feedback to his team-mates at half time. Ends his impressive playing career with back-to-back promotions and deservedly so. Hopefully that sets him up for whatever comes next – with a role at Ipswich certainly not off the cards.

Massimo Luongo signed a new deal midway through the campaign (Image: Ross Halls)

#25 - Massimo Luongo

43 appearances, 3 goals, 0 assists

Arrived at Portman Road just over a year ago, played a big role in taking them to the Championship and then made the step-up with ease. It’s no surprise given his pedigree at this level, but he’s managed to prove all his doubters wrong. He looked sharp both on and off the ball throughout the campaign, bringing bundles of energy into midfield. Scored crucial goals against Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough while earning a Goal of the Month nomination for his strike against Millwall.

Lewis Travis joined on loan in the January transfer window (Image: Ross Halls)

#28 - Lewis Travis

9 appearances, 0 goals, 0 assists

Came in to offer cover for Sam Morsy and did precisely that, albeit that he found his game time limited after making the loan move from Blackburn Rovers. Nonetheless, his late cameos helped Ipswich defend leads in certain games, and given that he was club captain during his time at Ewood Park, one would imagine that he had a big impact in the dressing room as well.

Nathan Broadhead averaged around one goal in every three games during the 2023/24 campaign (Image: Ross Halls)

#33 - Nathan Broadhead

38 appearances, 13 goals, 3 assists

Shared the top scorer award with Conor Chaplin and showed that he’s a top-end player at Championship level. A real threat and a clinical finisher who overcame a rough patch in January to really catch fire again towards the end of the campaign. He absolutely loved playing at Portman Road, with nine of his 13 goals coming on home soil, and he’s certainly one who’ll be expected to make the step up to the Premier League.

Attackers

Freddie Ladapo joined Charlton Athletic on loan in January (Image: Ross Halls)

#9 - Freddie Ladapo

17 appearances, 2 goals, 0 assists

Another player who’ll be remembered for his time in League One above everything else, but his cameo against Cardiff City will be the clear highlight of his time with Town in the Championship, bagging a brace to help them come from 2-0 down to take all three points. Always came in when needed, even in difficult circumstances, and deserves significant praise for that.

Ali Al-Hamadi was able to make the step up from League Two to the Championship (Image: Pagepix)

#16 - Ali Al-Hamadi

14 appearances, 4 goals, 0 assists

One of the cult heroes of Ipswich’s promotion. Arrived from League Two with a drive to succeed and an infectious personality. Fans belted his name out from the away end at The Den after he scored a late penalty at Millwall, and his goals against Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City will ensure that his missed spot-kick against the Robins will be quickly forgotten. A big future ahead of him.

Kayden Jackson stepped up at the turn of the year when Ipswich had no other fit strikers (Image: Stephen Waller)

#19 - Kayden Jackson

29 appearances, 3 goals, 3 assists

Relegated from the Championship with Ipswich in 2019, promoted from the Championship with Ipswich in 2024. It’s amazing to think that he survived for so long at Portman Road, which is nothing against his ability, but rather that no manager was able to get the best out of him until McKenna arrived. He stepped up when he was needed in January and scored crucial goals against Stoke City, Preston and Sunderland.

Kieffer Moore returned to the club as a hero after a disappointing spell in 2017/18 (Image: Pagepix)

#24 - Kieffer Moore

18 appearances, 7 goals, 1 assist

With George Hirst out injured, Town needed a hero and lit up the metaphorical Bat-Signal. Kieffer Moore answered the call, returning to the club at the end of January despite having a difficult spell at in Suffolk earlier in his career. He showed how much he’s improved since then, leading the line as a physical presence and scoring seven goals. His strike against Coventry City will probably stand out the most, seeing as it gave his side a big push towards promotion.

Dane Scarlett was re-called by Tottenham Hotspur in January (Image: PA)
#24 - Dane Scarlett

12 appearances, 0 goals, 0 assists

When he arrived, there were question marks over where he was going to fit in the squad, but he proved quite a few of his doubters wrong and turned out to be a useful squad player even if he didn’t get to make a start for Town. Unsurprisingly, that wasn’t what parent club Tottenham Hotspur wanted, but he still played a part in something special.

George Hirst missed four months of the season with a hamstring injury (Image: Pagepix)

#27 - George Hirst

26 appearances, 7 goals, 6 assists

Returning to Ipswich after an impressive loan spell last season, Hirst hit the ground running by finally scoring his first Championship goal on the opening day of the season against Sunderland. He only got better from then on, showing that goals are just a part of his game. His movement, physicality and work rate made him a crucial part of the team, and they really missed him when he was out with a significant hamstring injury. His involvement at the end of the season certainly helped the Blues over the line.

Gerrard Buabo made his debut in a 0-0 draw against QPR (Image: Ross Halls)

#51 - Gerrard Buabo

1 appearance, 0 goals, 0 assists

Like Aluko, his sole appearance came at the end of the stalemate against QPR, but unlike Aluko, Gerrard Buabo’s playing career is only just starting. The 18-year-old showed glimpses of real quality against Portman Road that evening and will hope to build on that in years to come. A loan spell seems inevitable, but there’s undoubtedly a pathway into the first-team squad in the long-term future.